Apparatus for conditioning fibrous material



Nov. 7, 1939.

APPARATUS G. HILL ET AL 2,178,539

FOR CONDITIONING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed May 16, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 7,'1939. G HILL Er AL 2,178,539

I APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FIBRoUs MATERIAL Filed May 16, 1936 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 *.7* Z- GEORGE HILL 75 ARTHUR G. HILL PEARGE H. BAKER y LEoN c. MlTcHuM- 16 EDWARD A. HARPER lNvENTORs N YWAML THEIR ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1939. G, H|| Er AL 2.178.539

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FIBHOUS MATERIAL Filed May 16, 1936 4 sweets-sheet 5 ORGE HILL THUR G, HILL PEARCE- H. BAKER LEON C, MITCHUM EDWARD A. HARPER INVENTORS BY @MM THEIR ATTORNEY Nov. 7, w39. G. HILL Er A1.

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed May 16, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mm O R P 5 ULMWRS LWACAR m .BWMO HG .MAT n j H N ER CDE GUE RV .k RHMNAN oTAowl l EREED GAPLE 23 1 5 5 5 4 5 m 7 A 5 M 9 6 3 4 M 5 4 I '.II 47 .wvl 8 4 6 2 5 4 9 4 4 2 2 3 D I\"'| i 6 1 G 3 3 E Uh BY THEIR ATTORNEY Paiefnied ov, 7, i939 eras.

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING RIBEUS MATERIAL ApplicationvMay 16, 1936, Serial No. 80,114

2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for oiling or otherwise moistening fibrous materials, such as cotton, Wool, jute, hemp, and the like during the processing of such materials, and the invention has particular reference to the application of oils 1 or oil compounds to fibrous material while -tne material is being subjected to a cleaning or paralleling operation as, forl example, while the material is being subjected to the action of a beater `in the beater chamberof a picker.

While the invention will be described vfor the purpose of illustration with specific reference to the treatment of fibrous material in the beater chamber of a picker, it will be understood that it is equally applicable to the treatment' of any such materials in any type of cleaning orparalleling apparatus. i

The invention has for its object to provide a simplified apparatus for spraying brous materials with oils or'oil compounds. To accomplish this object the apparatus has been designed to eliminate any possibility of its becoming airbound, to provide a positive and constant oil supply by maintaining a uniform headon the oil line, to prevent the accumulation of motes on the spray manifold, to facilitate the regulation of the quantity of oil sprayed, and to obtain better atomization and-more uniform distribution of the fluid sprayed. Other and more obvious objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear as the description thereof, vtalren in connection with the accompanying drawings, proceeds. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, partially in section, of a portion of a picker or cleaning mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View taken' on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3l, f

Fig. 3 is anenlarged view-of the spray manifold shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged sectional view of the spray manifold taken on the line. 4-4 of Fig. 3, f y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the two-way air valve shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged and partially sectional view of the vacuum operated constant head tank shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the` air valve shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a spraying apparatus which is particularly adapted for sprayingfiibrous material such as cotton, wool,

jute, hemp and the like with a wetting agent such as oil or oil compounds. For the purpose of illustration the invention will be described with reference to the application of oil to cotton, with the understanding that theinvention is not so y limited but may be used with equal success for the application of any desired wetting agent to any desired brous material at any point in the process of manufacture.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 includes a picker 10 indicated generally by. the reference numeral I0. The picker, which is of conventional design, includes a beater chamber II wherein cotton which is introduced into the chamber through feed rolls I2, I2 is acted upon by a revolving beater I3. A perforated grid provided with a plurality of grid bars I4 is positioned in the lower portion of the beater chamber. Dust and motes separated from the cotton by the action of the beater I3 pass from the chamber through the grid bars and are y20 subsequently removed. v l

Oil is applied to the cotton substantially at the point of its entry into the beaterchamber II and in the apparatus illustrated a spray manifold I5 is shown in position beneath the bottom feed roll 25 I2 and placed lwellforward so that it lies along the arc formed by the grid section. The top grid bar I 4 is preferably removed from the usua] assembly to provide sucient space for convenient insertion of the spray manifold I5 which then'3u takes the place of the bar which has Ybeen removed andA which is maintained in the desired position by any suitable securing means. The oil may, of course, be applied at any other convenient or desired point within the beater chamber of the picker or cleaning machine mechanism;

Air and oil under regulated pressure are supplied tothe spray manifold I5 wherein the oil is atomized and from which the atomized oil is discharged in a fan-like spray so as to be discharged upon the cotton substantially at the point of separation of the individual bers from the mass.

For the purpose of supplying air to the manlfold I5 connection is made to asource of air supply such as a compressor' (not shown). From this source of supply the air passes thrbugh a valved pipe I 6, a lter I1, a reducing valve I8 and a pressure gauge I 9. From the gauge the main air line extends to a two-way valve 20, the 5o line being provided at convenient points between the gauge I9 and valve 20 with a manually operable control valve 2| and a strainer 22. The twoway valve 20 is so arranged as to automatically stop the now of air to the manifold I5 simulta- 55 neously withthel Apping of the feed mechanism of the picker, thu discontinuing the sprayV of oil in the beater chamber II whenever ,the picker ceases to operate. VThe valve 20 15.-operated by a knock-olf arm 23 which in .turn is actuated by any desired mechanism operating in timed relation with the cleaning vmachine ory picker, such as a vertical motion rod 24 on thev pickerf# -When the picker is in operation air passesfrom the valve 20 through a pipe 25 to the air manifold 26 which is provided with one or more, preferably about twenty (20), jets or nozzles 21.

Oil is supplied to the spray manifold I5 from interchangeable oil vdrums such as that indicated by reference numeral 28 in Fig. 1. A pipe 29 extends into the drum and 'almost yto the bottom thereof. The opposite end of pipe 29 connects with a constant head tank 30 through a T fitting 3|, one side of which connects directly with the head 32 of the tank 30 while the other is pro-4 vided with a vacuum breaker 33 which includes upper and lower seats 34 and 35, respectively, for a ball valve 36, the operation 'of which will later be described.

A vacuum cup 31 is secured inside the tank 30 and to the under side of the head 32 by means of screws, bolts or the like, suitable packing 38 being provided to insure an air-tight connection. An outlet pipe 39 is secured in the bottom of the vacuum cup 31 and on its free end a flap valve 40 is hingedly mounted. Whenever a partial vacuum is maintained in the cup 31 the valve 40 is held in a closed position but when the vacuum is broken the valve 40 responds to the head of oil acting upon it within the cup 31 and opens to permit the oil to flow into the main tank 30.

The head 32 is formed to provide a centrally disposed andinternally threaded boss 4| in which there is secured a valve housing 42. Housing 42 is bored longitudinally at two diameters as indicated at 43 and 44. The lower and smaller bore 43 is adapted to support a stem 45 which extends upwardly into the upper and larger bore 44. A tapered valve 46 is secured on the upper end of the stem 45, and on the lower end of the stem which extends downwardly into the vacuum .cup 31 there is secured a hollow float 41.

One end of an elbow tting 48 is secured inthe upper `end of valve housing 42. A bushing 49 is secured in this end of the fitting 48 to provide a restricted orice for the passage of air and also to provide at its end a seat for the tapered valve 46. The opposite end of the fitting 48 connects with a pipe 50 which extends to and connects with a vacuum creator or entrainment nozzle 5| which includes a T fitting 52 secured by a nipple 53 to the head 32 through which communication is made with the interior of the vacuurn cup 31. The vacuum creator 5| is provided with a tube 54 of restricted diameter through which air from the pipe 50 passes under pressure at high velocity. Oney end of the tube 54 is tapered and extends in spaced relation into a correspondingly tapered portion of an orifice 55 in a plug 56 which is screwed into an end of the T fitting 52. Thus air passing from tube 54 through the orifice 55 of plug 56 entrains with it air from the vacuum cup 31 and thereby creates a partial vacuum in the cup. The air thus used to create a partial vacuum in the cup 31 may be taken from any convenient source of air supply and is introduced into the enlarged portion of valve housing 42 through a pipe 51.

An outlet is provided in the bottom of the constant head tank 36 and to it there is connected one end of a pipe 11 which connects at its opposite end with a sight feed needle valve 58 by means of which the supply of oil fed to the spray manifold I5 is given a final and minute regulation. The pipe 11 is provided with a valve 59 and an oil lter 60. Oil which passes through the needle valve 58 in regulated quantities is conveyed through a pipe 6| to an oil manifold 62 which is secured in longitudinal relation to the air manifold 26, the air manifold 26 and oil manifold 62 together constituting the spray manifold I5.

As previously stated,- the spray manifold is provided with a plurality of spray nozzles or jets 21. Each spray jet includes an oil delivery tube l63 which is formed with a centrally disposed restricted bore 64 and which is in open communication at one end with the oil manifold 62. The opposite end of the delivery tube is suitably tapered and extends through the air manifold 26 and into the correspondingly shaped interior of a jet housing 65 which is screwed into a suitable threaded opening in the air manifold 26. The jet housing 65 is provided with a centrally disposed discharge orice 66 which is co-axial with the bore 64 in the delivery tube 63. The delivery tube 63 is formed on its tapered end with off-set slots 61 and the end is so positioned within the housing 65 as to provide an annular clearance space between the exterior of the tube 63 and the inner wall of the housing |55.- Thus air from the air manifold 26 passes around the oil delivery tube 63 and finally passes out through the oifset slots 61 and orifice 66, the off-set position of the slots 61 causing the air to be discharged through the orifice 66 in a fan-shaped spray. The air discharged through orice 66 entrains with it oil which is caused to rise in the bore 64 by the vacuum produced therein.

In Fig. 5 there are shown the details of construction of the two-way air valve 20 shown generally in Figs. 1 and 2. The valve assembly includes a housing 68 formed with a longitudinal bore 69 drilled at two diameters to provide a tapered valve seat 10 for a spool valve 1| which is adapted to move longitudinally in the bore 69. Housing 68 is provided with air discharge outlets 12 and 13, outlet 12 connecting with pipe 25 which leadsto the air manifold 26 and outlet 13 being provided to vent any air in the housing 68 or pipe 25 tothe atmosphere when the spray manifold ceases to operate. The position of the valve 1| is regulated by means of a push rod 14 (Fig. 2) which in turn is actuated by the knock-off arm 23.` Movement of the arm 23 actuates the push rod 14 in a substantially longitudinal direction and pushes the valve 1| to the left (as viewed in Fig. 5) to close outlet 13 and remove the valve from its seat 10. When thus opened air enters the bore GSfrom pipe |6, passes around the valve and out through outlet 12 to pipe 25. When arm 23 is moved in the opposite direction the rod 14 ceases to act upon the valve 1| which is then forced back upon its seat 10 by the action of air entering from pipe I6 and by the further action of a spring 15. 'I'hus the action of the valve is entirely automatic and dependent upon the operation of the feed mechanism.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the operation of the herein described apparatus is dependent upon the operation of the feed mechanism and is controlled by regulating the supply of air to the air manifold 26. As long as the feed mechanism is in operation the two-way air valve .2D is maintained in position to permit air to pass through the jets 21. As the air passes around and over the tapered end of thexdelivery tube 63 a partial vacuum is created within the tube and oil is drawn therefrom to be mixed with the rapidly moving air, and the resulting mixture is dis.

charged from the jet 21 in a fan-like spray upon the cotton as the individual fibers are separated from the mass by the action of the beater I3.

' Oil is supplied to the oil manifold 62 from the oil drum 28, being drawn therefrom by reason of the partial vacuum created in the vacuum cup 31 by the action of the air passing through the vacuum creator l. As air is withdrawn from the vacuum cup 31 oil isy drawn from the drum 28 by reason of the fact that the pipe 29 ts loosely through the top of the drum and air at atmospheric pressure acts on the oil in the drum to force it through the pipe 29 to the vacuum cup 31. As the oil level rises within the vacuum cup 31 the float 41 rises, and when a predetermined and desired level has been reached the tapered valvev 46 closes the opening in the end of bushing t9 and shuts off the supply of air to the vacuum creator 5 l. During the period that a partial vacuum is maintained in the vacuum cup 31 the ball valve 3B of the vacuum breaker 33 is pulledupwardly and held against the upper valve seat 34,

` thus preventing the admission of any air to the Vacuum cup. When the air supplied to vacuum creator 5| is discontinued by the closing of valve d6, the ball valve 36 quickly drops to the lower Valve seat 35 which is suitably slotted to permit ready access of air which quickly enters the vacuum cup 31 and breaks the vacuum. Also, when the vacuum is broken the ap valve 40 in the outlet pipe 39 responds to the head of liquid acting upon it and opens to permit the oil in the vacuum cup to iiow into the main tank 30 which is vented to -the atmosphere through a suitable opening 16 in the wall of the tank. As soon as the oil level falls in the vacuum cup the tapered valve is drawn away from the opening in the end of the bushing 49 and once again air is allowed to pass to the vacuum creator to start another cycle in the operation of the constant head tank.

The oil from the tank 30 passes through pipe li! to the sight feed needle valve 53 where the supply of oil is accurately regulated. On passing from the needle valve 58 the oil passes through the oil delivery tube G3 when drawn therethrough by the partial vacuum created by the action of the air in the jet housing 65.

When the feed mechanism discontinues operation the push rod 1B is moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 5, and the spring. 15, together with the action of air entering the valve housing 68 from pipe'l, causes the spool valve 1I to move to the right until it is seated on the seat 10. At that time the supply of air through the valve is stopped and the air in the Valve housing, together with that in the pipe 25 and the air manifold 26, is.vented to the atmosphere through outlet`13, and when airis not being discharged through the jets 21 oil is not drawn from the supply pipe B3 and no oil is sprayed on the cotton during the time that the feed mechanism is out of operation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as herein described may be made without ydeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the pended claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus of the kind described, a container for oil maintained under atmospheric pressure, a. spray manifold comprising nozzles for the spraying of atomized oil, a sight feed needle valve for regulating thesupply of oil to the manifold, an air operated constant head tank for withdrawing oil from said container and supplying it to said needle valve, and separate air lines for supplying air under pressure to actuate the constant head tank and to atomize and discharge the oil from said nozzles.

2. In an apparatus for applying a conditioning uid to brous materialA during the processing thereof, a spray manifold having atomizing nozzles directed to apply they atomized conditioning iiuid upon the brous material,l means for conducting air under pressure to said nozzles, means -for conducting the conditioning iiuidto said nozzles, air operated means for obtaining a primary regulation of the supply of conditioning fluid to said nozzles, and means for obtaining a secondary and more minute regulation of said supply of conditioning uid prior to its delivery to said nozzles.

GEORGE HILL. ARTHUR G. HILL;, PEARCE H. BAKER. LEON C. MITCHUM. EDWARD A. HARPER. 

